The phrase "Three O Paradox" is probably a shorthand reference to the statement that a being cannot simultaneously be omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent.

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The phrase '''"Three O Paradox"''' is probably a shorthand reference to the statement that a being cannot simultaneously be [[omniscient]], omnipresent, and [[omnipotent]].

In this article, I will list a number of incompatible-properties arguments discussed by Theodore Drange in his article ‘Incompatible-Properties Arguments: A Survey’. Drange discusses objections in his articles, so I advise anyone interested to read it. I will not discuss any of them here. In some cases, individual articles will discuss them more in-depth.

In this article, I will list a number of incompatible-properties arguments discussed by Theodore Drange in his article ‘Incompatible-Properties Arguments: A Survey’. Drange discusses objections in his articles, so I advise anyone interested to read it. I will not discuss any of them here. In some cases, individual articles will discuss them more in-depth.

Revision as of 13:08, 12 March 2012

The phrase "Three O Paradox" is probably a shorthand reference to the statement that a being cannot simultaneously be omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent.

In this article, I will list a number of incompatible-properties arguments discussed by Theodore Drange in his article ‘Incompatible-Properties Arguments: A Survey’. Drange discusses objections in his articles, so I advise anyone interested to read it. I will not discuss any of them here. In some cases, individual articles will discuss them more in-depth.

3. An omniscient being must know exactly what actions he will and will not do in the future.

4. If one knows that he will do an action, then it is impossible for him not to do it, and if one knows that he will not do an action, then it is impossible for him to do it.

5. Thus, whatever an omniscient being does, he must do, and whatever he does not do, he cannot do (from 3 and 4).

6. To be free requires having options open, which means having the ability to act contrary to the way one actually acts.

7. So, if one is free, then he does not have to do what he actually does, and he is able to do things that he does not actually do (from 6).

8. Hence, it is impossible for an omniscient being to be free (from 5 and 7).

9. Therefore, it is impossible for God to exist (from 1, 2, and 8).

K. The Justice vs. Mercy Argument

1. If God exists, then he is an all-just judge.

2. If God exists, then he is an all-merciful judge.

3. An all-just judge treats every offender with exactly the severity that he/she deserves.

4. An all-merciful judge treats every offender with less severity than he/she deserves.

5. It is impossible to treat an offender both with exactly the severity that he/she deserves and also with less severity than he/she deserves.

6. Hence, it is impossible for an all-just judge to be an all-merciful judge (from 3-5).

7. Therefore, it is impossible for God to exist (from 1, 2, and 6).

Drange’s arguments are varied. Some of them only apply to the Christian god, some apply to all. Some are more soldly argued than others. Nevertheless, his collection was worthy of putting on our list simply because of its exhaustive nature.